Enoch Wilson is Riding the Lightning into CageSport Title Shot

At various times in his career, featherweight veteran Enoch “Animal” Wilson had seemingly been on the cusp of breaking through to the big stages of MMA only to have things go off the rails at the last minute.

After a tumultuous past couple years that’s seen him lose three of five fights (with one draw), Wilson feels he’s back on track after putting house in order and is ready to make one more run at things in 2013.

“Things have been up and down and I’ve been through a lot of changes and stuff, but I’m in a much more comfortable spot right now,” said Wilson. “I’ve been training very hard and I’m really, really healthy.

“I made my pro boxing debut recently and won by knockout in round two; which is another sport I’d like to pursue more. So right now I’m just riding the lightning, so to speak. You can expect a lot more from ‘The Animal’ over the next couple of years for sure. I’m really going to hit it hard.”

When asked by MMAWeekly.com if he feels he can make another one of his runs that brought him to the verge of something great, Wilson responded, “Oh yeah, absolutely.

“I’m a firm believer in it being a possibility. I’ve always been in the upper echelon I believe in the world, but whether it was politically or whatever it was, I just didn’t take the right steps at the right time. I didn’t have the right people backing me, so to speak, or didn’t take the right steps personally. I’ve been right there on the verge, and I do absolutely believe I will make that step eventually.”

Wilson will get his first step towards redemption when he challenges rising talent Drew “Eternal Fire” Brokenshire at CageSport on this Saturday in Tacoma, Wash., for the promotion’s 145-pound championship.

“He’s a tough kid; he’s fun to watch and comes from a good camp, so I’ve got to play my cards right and keep my head in the game,” said Wilson of Brokenshire. “That being said, he’s fought a lot of tough guys, but I don’t think Drew has ever fought anyone like me.

“I think I’m going to be a bit too much for him. I’m going to stay in face right out of the gate and I don’t think he’s going to be able to withstand the pressure for five rounds, I really don’t. All my wins are finishes, and I will finish this fight. I’m going to be like (Steve) Prefontaine: Take the lead in the very beginning and keep the lead until I put him out.”

Now that he has more avenues to explore and he’s a veteran fighter, Wilson doesn’t feel the pressure so much to make things now or never. Instead he’s going to explore every option he has on his terms.

“I’ve been struggling real hard to break through in MMA, and instead of trying so hard to no avail, I’m going to take it fight by fight and focus more on my boxing career and winning a world title potentially,” he said. “If I get the big break in MMA, I’ll take the matches as they come at me, when they’re right ones.

“Just fight by fight is the way I’m going do it from now on and take what opportunities may arise.”